Anthem Blue Cross 2008 Annual Report Download - page 10

16 WELLPOINT, INC.
CENTERS OF MEDICAL EXCELLENCE
To help members make informed decisions about
choosing a hospital when they face a complex condi-
tion, WellPoint designates a network of specialty care
centers. The program identifies hospitals that have
distinguished themselves in terms of expertise and
outcomes in the areas of transplant, bariatric surgery,
cardiac care and complex or rare cancers. For example,
we recently completed an analysis that showed the
participating cardiac care centers improve outcomes
while reducing cost of care. Members can learn more
about these centers through www.anthem.com.
HEALTH. CARE. VALUE.
HEALTHCARE SAFETY SENTINEL SYSTEM
Through our subsidiary, HealthCore, and in collaboration
with leading government and academic institutions, we
are pursuing better monitoring of approved drugs and
therapies after they enter clinical use. We believe our
Healthcare Safety Sentinel System will be capable of
detecting safety problems faster than current practices.
After launching in late 2009, the system will have the
ability to monitor targeted drugs or other health care
treatments and report spikes in adverse events –
information we hope will allow faster, more informed
decision making by health care professionals.
Marcus Wilson, Pharm.D.
(foreground), is president of
WellPoint’s research subsidiary,
HealthCore, where he collabo-
rates with colleague Rhonda
Bohn, MPH, ScD, to develop
the innovative Healthcare Safety
Sentinel System. The effort’s
enormous importance is also
attracting the help of nationally
recognized institutions and
experts, such as Dr. Jerry Avorn
of Harvard Medical School.